16.12.2024
Chicago Blackhawks 5 - 3 New York Islanders
In a thrilling encounter at the United Center, Connor Bedard scored a decisive goal with just 54 seconds left, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Bedard's goal broke a 3-3 tie, as he capitalized on a rebound from Ryan Donato's attempt, managing to send the puck through Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin's pads. Connor Murphy added an empty-net goal for Chicago, who snapped a two-game losing streak, with Teuvo Teravainen contributing a goal and two assists. Despite strong efforts from Islanders players Ryan Pulock, Simon Holmstrom, and Noah Dobson, who had returned from an injury, the Islanders fell short. The game also marked Scott Mayfield's 500th NHL appearance, while Islanders' Adam Pelech returned from injury. Despite a solid defensive performance in the latter periods, the Islanders couldn't prevent the late Blackhawks surge.
Toronto Maple Leafs 5 - 3 Buffalo Sabres
In an exciting matchup at Scotiabank Arena, John Tavares led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres, scoring his 14th NHL hat trick and netting a natural hat trick to secure the win. The Sabres took an early lead, with Jack Quinn scoring twice and Alex Tuch adding another, but Toronto rallied with an electrifying second period, scoring three quick goals in 2:31. Nicholas Robertson and Max Domi were pivotal, each contributing a goal and an assist, while goaltender Dennis Hildeby made 24 saves in just his third NHL start. Despite strong performances from the Sabres' Jack Quinn and goalie Devon Levi, Buffalo suffered their 10th straight loss. The victory pushed the Maple Leafs to a 6-3-0 record in their last nine games, while Buffalo's frustrations continued, with coach Lindy Ruff expressing his commitment to solving their ongoing struggles.
Carolina Hurricanes 4 - 1 Columbus Blue Jackets
In an impressive performance, Dustin Tokarski, making his first NHL start since February 2023, recorded 27 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes secure a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tokarski, who joined the Hurricanes after signing a one-year, two-way contract in December, showed resilience and skill in front of the net, contributing significantly to Carolina's win. Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal made key contributions, with Martinook netting a goal and an assist, and Staal providing two assists. The Hurricanes scored a shorthanded goal, and Sebastian Aho, William Carrier, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi all added to the scoreline. The Blue Jackets' lone goal came from Dmitri Voronkov, as they faced challenges in the power play, going 0-for-5. Notably, Martin Necas achieved his 30th assist of the season, becoming only the second player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to reach this milestone in the first 30 games of a season, following Ron Francis.
St Louis Blues 3 - 2 New York Rangers
In a tight contest at the Enterprise Center, the St. Louis Blues secured a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers, with standout performances from Jordan Kyrou, who scored in his fourth consecutive game, and Robert Thomas, who extended his point streak to seven games. Pavel Buchnevich added to the Blues' tally and maintained his nine-game point streak, while Joel Hofer was solid in goal with 26 saves to clinch his fourth straight win. The Blues, who had recently lost two games, showed improved defensive checking despite a tense third period, as observed by Blues coach Jim Montgomery. Brett Berard and Will Cuylle provided the goals for the Rangers, who struggled in the absence of their leading scorer Artemi Panarin, marking their fourth loss in five games. The Rangers also saw forward Kaapo Kakko as a healthy scratch, reflecting a strategic decision by coach Peter Laviolette to invigorate the lineup, as they continue with a concerning record, having allowed three or more goals in 10 games since mid-November.
Minnesota Wild 2 - 3 Vegas Golden Knights
Victor Olofsson's two-goal performance led the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Despite coming off a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Golden Knights improved to 5-1-0 in their last six games. Shea Theodore contributed a goal and an assist, while Jack Eichel added two assists, displaying a strong team effort. Ilya Samsonov made 20 saves for Vegas, which capitalized on a shorthanded Wild lineup featuring goalie Jesper Wallstedt in his season debut following a last-minute scratch of Filip Gustavsson. Kirill Kaprizov scored both goals for Minnesota, marking his second consecutive two-goal game. Despite a strong start by the Wild, Olofsson's decisive third-period goal secured the win for Vegas. Notable moments included Olofsson's power-play goal and Theodore's rush-assisted go-ahead score in the second period, both showcasing Vegas's ability to strike effectively in crucial moments. The Golden Knights' resilience and strategic play highlighted why winning in regulation against competitive teams is pivotal, as articulated by coach Bruce Cassidy. Minnesota adapted by dressing extra defense, allowing Travis Dermott to debut after being claimed from the Oilers, yet still fell short against a persistent Vegas squad.